starting (battery) problem

B

brianogilchrist

Junior Member
I have a 6 volt system with an alternator. The previous owner says it is not a negative polarity alternator. I can't see anything on the alternator that will confirm that. The problem is I have had trouble starting the car. All three cells are testing at 1.275. I did discover a loose ground connection. The other thing that I think could be a problem is that the battery was hooked up positive to the starter. Could that have anything to do with starting. Also, if I connect it negative th starter and positive to ground (like it should be I think) will I damage anything if the alternator is negative polarity?
 
brian, I wouldn't go switching the polarity of the battery until you're sure of the alternator's polarity. If you reverse the polarity on the alternator, you're going to damage it. In your last thread, I gave you a link so you could check your alternator. I would take the alternator back off and look at how it's wired so you'll know what the correct polarity is. Here is that link again: http://alternatorparts.com/6-volt-al...its-parts.html
 
You could connect the battery, but don't have any wires on the alternator output post. Connect a bulb, (such as the 12 volt dome light bulb out of your modern car) to the output post, and just touch the other bulb terminal to the output wire that should be connected to the alternator. If the bulb lights up then you need to switch the battery around.
 
I think you mean connect the battery back positive to starter (I have it out of the car now)? I'm not sure how I could use the dome light from another car. Is there a test light I could use for that? Thank's for the suggestion Tom
Brian
 
Yes, you could use a test light. You don't want to use something like a headlight that draws a lot of amps. You are putting the light in series with the output to see if you have current flowing into the alternator from the battery. The output diodes should stop any current from flowing back into the alternator, but if the battery is connected backwards you'll send high current back though the diodes and fry them. That's why you use something that only allows a little current flow, such as a test light. If the test light lights up then switch the battery and try again. There should be no light if everything is connected correctly.
 
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Thank you Tom, I'll try that. By the way, we lived in your city for several years a while back. Great place to live but a little cold during the winter.
Brian
 
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